I lived in Istanbul for several months, and during that time I noticed that the city is perfect for lovers of art museums: locals hardly visit them, and tourists are usually busy with more popular attractions. This means visitors can enjoy the exhibition spaces without having to wait in lines. Today, I’ll show you a few photos of Istanbul’s Pera Museum, located in the city’s tourist center.
Pera Museum: History
The word Pera has been around since Byzantine times—this was the name for the district where the museum now stands.
The exhibition space opened twenty years ago, in June 2005. The museum was founded by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation. The foundation’s main goal is to support education, healthcare, and the arts in Turkey.
The museum hosts three permanent exhibitions: one dedicated to Orientalist painting, another to weights and measures, and a third showcasing ceramics. The Pera Museum collaborates with many museums worldwide, including the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. Works by renowned masters such as Rembrandt, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and Francisco Goya have been exhibited here.
In addition to the permanent displays, there are temporary exhibitions. For example, at the moment, the temporary galleries feature works dedicated to the photographer Samih Rıfat and artist Marcel Dzama. The museum’s official website lists the current exhibition schedule.
The Pera Museum also hosts various events: workshops, programs for school groups, and educational seminars. There is also a cinema hall on site.
The building itself deserves special mention. It was constructed in 1893, though it originally housed the prestigious Bristol Hotel, not exhibition halls. A reconstruction took place in 2003. Unfortunately, I can’t show you how the building looks from the outside—every time I was in the area, the weather was unsuitable for photography, as it was raining. But if you plan to visit the museum or simply pass by, be sure to take note of its distinctive façade.
How to Get There
The address of the Pera Museum is Meşrutiyet Caddesi No.65. The famous pedestrian street İstiklal Avenue is just a short walk away. If you’re coming by metro, you can get off at Şişhane station and walk from there. Taksim station is located a bit further away.
The museum is closed on Mondays. From Tuesday to Saturday, it’s open from 10:00 to 19:00; on Fridays, opening hours are extended to 22:00. On Sundays, however, the hours are shorter—from 12:00 to 18:00.
As of July 2025, admission to the museum is 300 lira. I visited for free, as I happened to come during the Istanbul Biennial. This year, the event will take place from September 20 to November 23. It’s best to check the museum’s website for up-to-date ticket prices for your planned date.
If you’re interested in reading more about Istanbul’s art museums, I recommend my articles on the Sakıp Sabancı Museum and the Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture.
Have a nice trip!
